Apparatus for regenerating water softening materials



Jufly W, 1932. .l. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR REGENERATING WATER SOFTENING MATERIALS Filed Feb. "16, 1929 u 3 3 2mm H m NM .n I A 8 N M Patented July '19, 1932 ra'rns non 1- warms wanna sor'rnri'me an Jenn a. mean, or 11 application died February 13, wt Serial do. M0388.

This invention relates to a water softener of that type employing a. zeolite which must periodically be regenerated by passing salt rine therethrou h.

llhe object of t e invention is to provide a regenerating means for the zeolite which will more efficiently act thereon. This is accomplished by diluting the salt brine so as to pass approximately a solution of brine to through the zeolite as distin uished from a highly concentrated brine o tained in the usual dissolution of salt and water. been found that wherein the commonpractics has been to pass water through a salt pot containing a quantity of salt and thence through the zeolite, whereby a comparativel concentrated brine solution is emloyed, that a more eficient regeneration is otained by passing a diluted brine through the zeolite comprising approximately 5% salt and a 95% water. i

With the old type of salt pot, the salt was put in at the top and the water admitted dissolving the salt, "forming a concentrated brine which was forced through the mineral bed.

Une feature of this invention contemplates the provision of a salt dissolving chamber in which only a portion of the'vvater to be discharged'through the zeolite is admitted at the bottom for dissolvin the salt contained in the chamber, whic relatively small amount of concentratedbrine formed thereby is discharged with the remaining portion into a relatively dilute solution before pass ing through the mineral bed or zeolite.

This is accom lished by by-passing aproximately 20 0 of the volume of Water to e discharged through the zeolite bed,

through the dissolving chamber containing a quantity of salt so that at the end of the by-pass this relatively small quantity of water comprising a high concentration of brine will be carried back into the main water passage to be absorbed by the greater amount of fresh water, thus obtaining a dilute solution of brine for regenerative purposes.

Another feature of the invention resides in the particular construction for by-passing a predetermined portion of the fresh Water It has of the fresh Water so as to mix therewith through the dissolving chamber in a convenicut and simplified manner, and also causing a swirling action thereof which tends to keep the salt contained in said chamber in suspension and thereby accelerating the process of '55 dissolving the salt while at the same time insuring thorough mixing and cleansing of the chamber w 11s.

Another feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the regenerating tank to and the discharge conduit extending upwardly therein and provided with a screen at the top for eliminating the flow of sand and dirt usually found in the salt, into the Water softener so as to foul the mineral bed and clog the gravel bed, thereby reventing the proper difiusion of the water t rough the softener.

By means of this arrangement, not only -will the forei matter be prevented from entering the d i s charge pipe, but will settle at the bottom of the chamber where it may be readily removed.

The full nature of the invention will be more clearly understood from the accorn- Z5 panying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 shows the apparatus in central vertical cross section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cen tral vertical section through the discharge nozzle.

lln the drawing there is shown a Water softener tank 10 having a Water softenin content or zeolite bed 11 therein supporte upon a gravel bed 12 by the bottom plate 13 in vvihiclhthere are provided a plurality of noza es Associated with said tank there is a regenerating tank 15 including a dissolving enerating tank there is a two-way pipe fitting 22 which provides an annular chamber 23 surrounding said standpipe and in communication with the bottom of the charm ber 16. Connected with said fitting there is a fresh water pipe 24 in which the fresh water discharge nozzle 25 is mounted, which nozzle extends into said standpipe through a suitable opening in the side thereof. A"

drain pipe 26 closed by a suitable valve is connected with said fitting in communication with the chamber 23.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2 there is a disnected with the lower tapered end of the recharge opening 27 in the side of the nozzle 25 which is in direct communication with the chamber 23. The end of the nozzle is closed as at 28 while in the bottom thereof there is an opening 29 which is in direct communication with the standpipe 19 and directed downwardly with respect thereto. It will be noted that the opening 27 is approximately one-fourth of the area of the opening 29 so that approximately 20% of the fresh water forced through the nozzle is discharged through the opening 27 in a swirling motion a out the chamber 23 while the balance of approximately 80% "of the fresh water is directed downwardly through the lower end of the standpipe 19. The water passing through the opening 27 will be caused to swirl about the dissolving chamber 16 and rise therein, dissolving the salt so that upon reaching the top of the standpipe and (passing through the screen 20 and downwar ly through the standpipe 19 it will be of a relatively high concentration. As this highly concentrated brine passes the end of'the nozzle 25, it joins the 80% fresh water and is mixed therewithso as to'pass through the pipe-30 and be discharged under the plate 13 by the nozzle 31, from whence it will rise upwardly through the zeolite solution 11 in a dilute state and out through the, discharge pipe 32 at the top of the tank 10.

rom the foregoing it will be noted that by reason of the comparative sizes of the water' discharge orifices 27 and 29 a substantialconcentrated. solutions used will more eflichargedtherethrough.

The invention claimed is: 1. The combination with a water softener ciently regenerate the zeolite upon being distank containing a bed of zeolitic substance therein, of means for regenerating the same comprising .a dissolving chamber associated therewith for containing a quantity of salt, a conduit for conductin a salt solution to be discharged through sa1d substance having one end open to the contents of said chamber,

,a fresh water supply line and a nozzle con- 2. The combination with a water softenertank containing a bed of zeolitic substancev therein, of means for regenerating the same comprising a dissolving chamber associated therewith for containing a quantity ofsalt, a conduit for conducting'a salt solution to be discharged through said substance, said conduit extending upwardly through the salt in said chamber and open to the contents thereof, a fresh water supply line having a discharge nozzle provided with an orifice in the side thereof communicating with said chamber, and an orifice of greater area communicating with said conduit, whereb a greater portion of the'fresh water wil be discharged into said conduit and a smaller portion thereof will be by-passed-through the salt in said chamber into the conduit at the upper open end thereof.

3. The combination with a water softener {tank containing a bed of zeolitic substance therein, of means for regenerating the same comprising a dissolving chamber associated therewith for containing a quantity of salt,

astandpipe extending upwardly into said.

chamber through the salt contained therein having an inlet at the top thereof, a protective screen about said inlet, a condmt connecting the lower end of said standpipe with said water softener tank, a fresh water supply line, a discharge nozzle connected therewith, said nozzle being provided with a discharge orifice communicating with said standpipe for directing fresh water downwardly therethrough, and an orifice of lesser dimensions in the side thereof in communication with the interior. of said chamber adapted to discharge a lesser portion of fresh water in a swirling motion a out said standpipe for dissolving the salt and carrying a concentrated solution through the upper inlet thereof to be mixed with and diluted by the fresh water discharged into said pipe from the end orifice of said nozzle.

4. The combination with a water softener tank containing a bed of zeolitic substance therein, of means for regenerating the same comprising a dissolving chamber associated therewith for containing a quantity of salt, a

standpipe extending upwardly into said chamber terminatin above the upper level of the salt containe therein and aving an inlet at the top thereof, said standpipe bein connected with the lower portion of sai water softener tank for discharging a'solution of brine therein, a protective screen surrounding the inlet at the top of said standpipe, and means for discharging fresh water into the bottom of said tank externally of said standpipe so as to cause the same to pass upwardly about said standpipe and through the salt contained in said chamber to be dischargcd throughthe top of said standpipe,

whereby insoluble and foreign substance will v be prevented from passing into said softener tank.

5. The combination with a water softener tank containing a bed of zeolitic substance therein, means for regenerating the same comprising a dissolving chamber for containing a quantity of salt, a standpipe therein terminating in an inlet in the upper portion of said chamber above the level of the salt contained therein for providing a brine outlet for the tank, a screen covering the standpipe inlet, means for passing water upward- 1y through the salt contained in said chamber for causing a solution of brine to be discharged from the upper portion thereof through said standpipe, whereby the insoluble and foreign substance contained in said chamber will accumulate in the bottom thereof and not pass through said standpipe into said tank, and means connected with the bottom of said chamber for removing such accumulation of material therefrom.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

JOHN A. JOHNSON. 

